SparkUp Exclusive Interview with Eye2Drive on the Future of NATO DIANA Innovation

In the high-stakes world of autonomous navigation, the quality of visual data is the thin line between mission success and system failure. As Eye2Drive continues to push the boundaries of bio-inspired imaging, our selection for the NATO DIANA (Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) program marks a pivotal moment in our mission to provide drones and robots with human-like visual resilience. The NATO DIANA Estonian accelerator is implemented by Tehnopol Startup Incubator together with Sparkup Tartu Science Park.

Monica Vatteroni, our Chief Executive Officer, recently sat down with the SparkUp team to discuss the technical foundations that make Eye2Drive a standout in the current NATO DIANA cohort. By focusing on hardware-level adaptive High Dynamic Range (HDR), we are solving the most persistent “blind spots” in modern CMOS technology.

The idea at the core of Eye2Drive technology and products, grew from foundational research at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, where the team initially explored vision technology for biomedical applications. They later identified a stronger market fit in autonomous systems, where conventional sensors struggled with rapidly changing light conditions and digital artifacts such as LED flickering.

SparkUp Tartu Science Park

The SparkUp Interview

The following is an excerpt from the original interview published by the SparkUp Estonian accelerator, detailing Eye2Drive’s technical advantages and strategic vision.

SparkUp: What has been the biggest achievement or challenge so far?

Monica: Our biggest achievement to date has been securing a €1.5M funding round in late 2024, led by RoboIT, CDP Venture Capital, and Pariter Partners. Having these investors on board confirms our strategic focus on autonomous systems. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is navigating the lengthy development cycles and conservative nature of the automotive and defense industries, especially when introducing fundamentally new sensor architectures. However, obtaining international patents for our adaptive HDR technology has been a crucial victory in protecting our unique competitive position.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is navigating the lengthy development cycles and conservative nature of the automotive and defense industries, especially when introducing fundamentally new sensor architectures. 

Monica Vatteroni

SparkUp: What sets Eye2Drive apart from competitors?

Monica: Unlike conventional cameras that depend on external software for High Dynamic Range (HDR) processing, our sensors perform adaptive HDR natively at the hardware level, frame by frame. This bio-inspired approach mimics the human eye’s ability to instantly transition between extreme light and shadow, effectively eliminating motion ghosting and LED flickering. Additionally, our sensors are designed to be “AI-ready,” allowing algorithms to control sensor parameters in real time. This enhances the efficiency and reliability of environmental perception.

SparkUp: Why did you choose the NATO DIANA accelerator?

Monica: The defense industry is shifting rapidly from traditional heavy machinery to unmanned, dual-use systems like drone swarms and autonomous logistics vehicles. Our technology is a strategic component for these applications, as it provides the robust vision required for navigation in unstructured or high-interference environments. Accelerators like NATO DIANA provide the essential bridge between deep-tech innovation and the rigorous qualification standards needed for modern defense platforms.

SparkUp: Where do you see your startup in 12 months and where in 5 years?

Monica: In one year, we aim to have a pre-production version of our next-generation sensor undergoing rigorous validation through established strategic partnerships in the mobility sector. By the five-year mark, we envision Eye2Drive as a leading provider of high-performance vision subsystems, with our bio-inspired sensors integrated into a wide range of autonomous defense, logistics, and medical robotics systems.

By the five-year mark, we envision Eye2Drive as a leading provider of high-performance vision subsystems, with our bio-inspired sensors integrated into a wide range of autonomous defense, logistics, and medical robotics systems.

Monica Vatteroni

SparkUp: Who will be the next defense or dual-use unicorn?

Monica: While I cannot predict which specific company it will be, the next unicorn will likely emerge at the intersection of AI and hardware-level sensing. Companies that move beyond general-purpose components to deliver “natively intelligent” hardware and systems that address critical perception gaps, like ours, will dominate the development of scalable, cost-effective unmanned platforms that define the future of defense.

SparkUp: Which publications and influencers in your field do you follow and would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

Monica: I highly recommend staying connected with academic research journals such as MDPI Sensors or IEEE Transactions, as many of the most disruptive hardware innovations originate in research settings. Professionally, I find insights from networks like Plug and Play and from industry leaders such as Sony and STMicroelectronics invaluable for understanding market trends and technical benchmarks. For deep-tech founders, publishing high-quality technical papers is essential to building a defensible intellectual property foundation.